Circular Head keeps rate increase below inflation

By
ARYELLE SARGENT

THE Circular Head Council has managed to keep its general rates increase below inflation despite federal cuts.

THE Circular Head Council has managed to keep its general rates increase below inflation despite federal cuts.

The council will consider a 2.63 per cent general rate increase at Thursday's council meeting when looking at the annual plan and budget estimates.

National inflation is 2.9 per cent and Hobart inflation is 2.8 per cent.

Circular Head Mayor Daryl Quilliam said the budget process was "complex in nature", but the questions behind the process were simple.

"What infrastructure does council have to maintain and at what level; what services does council have to offer under legislation and what services does the community want council to provide?" Cr Quilliam said.

"[The budget process] is a trade-off between all those questions, all guided by how much people are willing or able to pay.

"The delivery of this year's federal budget has seen a reduction in the money that council receives from financial assistance grants and will do for several years to come," Cr Quilliam said.

Taking this into account the council has adopted a conservative budget.

"This year's budget will focus on looking after existing infrastructure and delivering essential services, which is evidenced by expenditures of about $5.57 million on roads, bridges and drainage, about $1.88 million in waste management and collection and about $1.34 million in spending on reserves, parks, gardens and recreation facilities in a total budget of nearly $13.7 million," Cr Quilliam said.

The rural collection of waste has increased from $85 to $91, urban collection has increased from $127 to $132, the waste utility has increased from $61 to $63 and recycling from $55 to $57.